Youth Mentoring

Youth Mentoring

Forget Me Not Children’s Services offers a vocational training and mentoring program for at-risk youth ages 14 – 18 years of age. Often these are children who have participated in the Forget Me Not Farm’s therapeutic program, however in 2016 the vocational program opened up to any at-risk teen in need of mentoring within the community.

In the Mentoring Program, teens are given the opportunity to learn real-life skills they can carry on and apply as they enter the workforce. Working in partnership with the Humane Society of Sonoma County, the teens complete a brief course in animal welfare and shelter operations, and are then paired one-on-one with a volunteer mentor and an individualized program that is designed to best fit the student’s talent and needs. Opportunities include but are not limited to Animal Care Technician, Dog Trainer, Dog Groomer, Veterinary Assistant, Farm Animal Attendant, Garden Specialist, and Customer Service Clerk.

The essence of the Mentoring Program is to serve the dual purpose of job training and providing healthy positive relationships with an adult mentor. The power of a positive role model in a child’s life cannot be underestimated, and for many of our matches the relationship is one of mutual learning, growth, and respect that can last for years.

If you would like to refer a youth that would benefit from visiting the farm and becoming a mentee, please contact [email protected].

Youth Mentoring

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

— Helen Keller